IF Joe Hart is wondering what kind of reception lies in wait at the Etihad Stadium today then he could do worse than ask Ben Mee.

The Clarets matchday captain came through the ranks at his boyhood club and briefly played with Hart at City before the two saw their careers diverge - only to be reunited at Turf Moor this summer.

While Hart spent 12 years with City - winning two Premier League title, two League Cups and an FA Cup - Mee moved to Burnley and has enjoyed great times with the Clarets, but he still keeps an eye on City's results and has plenty of friends and family who support the Blues.

So will Hart get a good reception on his first return to City? "I’m sure, yeah. He’s well thought of at the club for what he did over the years.

"He was there a long time, yeah, I’m sure he will get a very good reception."

When Hart arrived at City from Shrewsbury Town in 2006 Mee was a youngster coming through the City ranks.

“I think I was playing in his first game when he arrived at City, so I knew him from a young lad. He’s a good lad," the 29-year-old said.

“I remember watching him and went to see him when he made it into the first team. It’s great to see how well he’s done.

“He’s a good personality, he’s a big personality in the squad. He brings experience to our game.”

Hart's dozen years at City ended with something of a whimper this summer. He had spent the last two years out on loan - at Torino and West Ham - and with Pep Guardiola looking for a goalkeeping more comfortable with the ball at his feet the 75-cap England international knew his time was up.

He was desperate to make a permanent exit from the Etihad Stadium and when Nick Pope and Tom Heaton suffered injuries at the same time Sean Dyche swooped to sign Hart.

So far the move to Turf Moor has worked for both parties, with Hart rediscovering the form that made him England's No. 1 for so long.

"He’s looked at us, how we train and how the club’s developed and thought he could come here and maybe get back on track to where he was a couple of years ago," said Mee.

"That’s testament to the club.

"He’s a good character, a big character and an experienced character. To have someone of his experience around the group always helps.

"I get on well personally with him, so it’s good to have him around."

Given how his time at City ended, Hart could be heading back to Manchester determined to prove a point.

"You have to ask him that, but I’m sure there’s something there," added Mee.

"It’s always good to go back to places you’ve played. He has been, I guess, written off in the past, but he’s still a top keeper and I’m sure he wants to prove he’s still a top keeper.”